Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts

[whole diary]

[stuving]

They have been doing the sort of things that usually take up the first half of any station building programme, like moving stuff that would be in the way of a new track or platform. And someone - or something - is keeping an eye on proceedings for you. It's a Leica Nova TM60 monitoring total station, living in a cage on Platform 3. Every few seconds it robotically spins round to look at (I presume) some survey reflectors stuck up on the far side of the station. I guess these are on bits they are afraid might slip down a hole someone has dug in what is (with hindsight) the wrong place.

[Chris from Nailsea]

That, or it's R2D2's younger brother.

Sorry.  CfN. 

[TonyK]

That, or it's R2D2's younger brother.

Sorry.  CfN. 

R3D3?

[ray951]

This doesn't seem to have been posted before but a website has been setup by Oxford residents 'annoyed' by the ongoing closure of Botley Road.
https://networkhell.co.uk/

Probably doesn't tell you anything new if you have been following this story closely, but useful to see opinions about this saga from outside the rail industry.

[Witham Bobby]

This doesn't seem to have been posted before but a website has been setup by Oxford residents 'annoyed' by the ongoing closure of Botley Road.
https://networkhell.co.uk/

Probably doesn't tell you anything new if you have been following this story closely, but useful to see opinions about this saga from outside the rail industry.

Grim

No doubt "lessons will be learned" etc blah blah

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Business owner 'willing to go to jail' over rates

An Oxford business owner said he could be willing to go to jail after he and other traders boycotted paying their business rates because of ongoing disruption on a key route.

Botley Road has been closed since April 2023 as part of Network Rail's ongoing £161m project to upgrade Oxford Station and is expected to reopen in August 2026.

Five businesses affected by the closure stopped paying their business rates and say they will not pay them until they get further financial support.

Tom Rainey, who runs The Porter House restaurant and hotel and The Punter pub, said it was "shocking" that businesses were being charged the full amount in business rates. He said it would "not take much brains" to create some form of exemption.

Business rates are collected by Oxford City Council on behalf of the government, which set the rates and keep most of the income. Decisions over changes to business rate charges are made by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

The council says it has supported businesses in applying for hardship funding.

However, Mr Rainey said he had applied to city council's hardship fund and received no response from the authority since November. He then found he would have to go to the VOA first to apply for relief, but his application was refused. Despite making two appeals to VOA's decision, he has still not heard anything.

"We are just passed around in this vicious circle because no-one actually cares," Mr Rainey said. "I find it more stomach-wrenching that we are actually paying business rates than the money we are losing. Oxford City Council is giving us absolutely nothing, and the VOA is just a waiting game. They are hiding behind bureaucracy. Not one person has offered us anything, and therefore we believe the only option is to make a stand."

The city council has not acted yet but Mr Rainey said he expected them to produce paperwork within the next few weeks. "Knowing the city council, they will have us in the magistrates' court by May." he added. While he admitted it was "a bit extreme", he said: "If I end up with a jail term, then I would accept that".

The group of traders, who are part of the Botley Road Independent Traders Association (BRITA), include The Porter House, The Punter, First Stop Spannerworks, The Westgate Hotel and Pack & Send.

Zack Iqbal, owner of First Stop Spannerworks, said he would take part in the boycott to "highlight the strain that Botley Road businesses are under".

An Oxford City Council spokesperson said: "The council understands the seriously negative impact that the long-term disruption of Botley Road is having on local businesses and is committed to doing what it can to help, within the limits of its powers. The council is responsible for collecting business rates on behalf of the government, which then retains the majority of the income. The rate is also set by central government. Decisions on changes to business rate charges are made by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) through an independent process, with each case assessed on its own merits."

A VOA spokesperson said: "We cannot comment on individual cases. If there has been a change to a property or its surrounding area, a business can report this to us, and we will assess if the rateable value should be reduced. We encourage any business who thinks that their rateable value is too high to let us know using our online service."

[Witham Bobby]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Business owner 'willing to go to jail' over rates

An Oxford business owner said he could be willing to go to jail after he and other traders boycotted paying their business rates because of ongoing disruption on a key route.

Botley Road has been closed since April 2023 as part of Network Rail's ongoing £161m project to upgrade Oxford Station and is expected to reopen in August 2026.

Five businesses affected by the closure stopped paying their business rates and say they will not pay them until they get further financial support.

[SNIP]

A VOA spokesperson said: "We cannot comment on individual cases. If there has been a change to a property or its surrounding area, a business can report this to us, and we will assess if the rateable value should be reduced. We encourage any business who thinks that their rateable value is too high to let us know using our online service."

I wish the very best of luck to anyone trying to get sense out of the VOA.  Personal experience attests to their inability to listen, understand or act.  My own business has been overpaying massive business rates since the last revaluation.  That they all seem to be shirking from home does not help.  Phones not answered, emails not responded to, no individual handling the case and taking responsibility.  Buck passing writ large

[Chris from Nailsea]

From Rail Advent:

£850,000 to be given out to Oxford businesses due to Botley Road disruption



Businesses in Oxford may be able to receive goodwill payments in recognition of the disruption caused by the Botley Road scheme.

Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, visited the site today to confirm the funding and to see progress on the improvements taking place.

Network Rail will write to affected businesses this week with more details.

A new cycle and walkway will open in August 2025 following progress being made and Botley Road will fully open in August 2026.

Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said: “I’m pleased that Network Rail can now offer payments to those eligible small, local businesses affected, and while it can’t undo all the hardship businesses have faced, it recognises the trouble the delays have caused."

[ChrisB]

The full press release can be found here, on Gov.uk

Oxford businesses to receive goodwill payments for Botley Road disruption

Network Rail will write to the affected local businesses that qualify to receive a share of up to £850,000 this week.

- government confirms up to £850,000 in payments to Oxfordshire businesses impacted by Network Rail disruption
- some small, local businesses most impacted by delayed works may be eligible to receive one-off, goodwill payments to acknowledge disruption caused
- Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, visits site to see progress on the Botley Road works – on track to be fully completed next summer

Some small businesses in Oxford most affected by works at Botley Road station may be eligible to receive goodwill payments, following the government today (13 June 2025) confirming up to £850,000 of Network Rail funding to acknowledge the local disruption.   The funding was confirmed today as the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, visited the site to see Network Rail’s progress on the major improvements to the city’s railway station and Botley Road as part of the Oxford Station Enhancements Project. 

The one-off goodwill payments are being offered in recognition of the disruption resulting from delays to the scheme, which businesses can apply to Network Rail for.

Network Rail will write to the affected businesses this week who qualify for this financial support and a process is being developed to take discussions further.

However, following a reset of the project in January, progress has been made and Network Rail are on track to deliver the new cycle and walkway in August 2025 and will fully reopen Botley Road in August 2026.

Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said:

I’m pleased that Network Rail can now offer payments to those eligible small, local businesses affected and while it can’t undo all the hardship businesses have faced, it recognises the trouble the delays have caused.

I’m glad the project is now on track. I will continue to hold Network Rail to account and engage with the local community. 

I look forward to the scheme being completed, so Oxford can benefit from more frequent and accessible transport links to boost growth in this bustling city.

Following delays owing to the discovery of a large Victorian arch under Botley Road and difficulties moving water pipes, Network Rail launched a new plan to keep the project moving forward early this year. 

Since the reset, the project has hit key milestones, including the early completion of a new clean water pipe by Thames Water. The next big step is to divert the sewer system, which is on track to finish later this year.

Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western Route Director, said:

We know the delays to this project have been frustrating, and we’re sorry for the disruption they’ve caused. The good news is that the project is now firmly back on track, and we’re making strong progress. We’re committed to keeping the community informed as we deliver a safer, more accessible Oxford station for everyone.

Network Rail has been keeping the community informed through monthly public events and business workshops, offering updates and support. New banners, posters and digital screens have also been put up around the station and Botley Road to keep everyone updated and remind people that local businesses are open as usual. The free Botley Flyer bus service now runs 7 days a week, helping people get to the city centre and extra security measures have been put in place to keep pedestrians safe.

Additional support includes new disabled drop-off bays, an audio guide map for easier navigation and improved lighting and CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele-Vision) around the station.

Network Rail will set out the process for applying in the coming weeks.[/quoe]